After a year off Kristian Berghofer will be returning to HAC to coach

This will be his 21st rugby season and eighth as a coach. Berghofer joined HAC four years ago as the Club Coach and First Grade coach, roles that he will be taking on in 2019.

As a player he was a First Grade premiership wining captain and Shute Shield NSW Suburban Rugby captain.

Berghofer has also coached a First Grade premiership winning team and a Colts [under 21’s] premiership winning team. 

He was named as a NSW Suburban Rugby coach and as the NSW Coach of the Year in 2010.

He was an integral part of HAC’s recent dominance in the Suburban Rugby competition [Subbies]. 

Since being at HAC as Club Coach the club First and Second Grades were runners-up in 2015.

In 2016 First, Second and Fourth Grades all made the finals with Firsts and Seconds winning. 

First grade made the division two finals in 2017 and again won. 

Despite not coaching in 2018 Berghofer’s influence was still felt and both First and Second Grades once again made the finals and won, with Second Grade going undefeated on the season. 

Now with the 2019 season coming up quickly Berghofer is excited to get back into the club.

“Having 2018 off was good but I’m keen to get back to the culture and enjoying the club itself,” he said.

As first grade coach Berghofer would like to win another championship, but he also wants to see the club grow across all grades.

He says we wants to concentrate on “building-up off the field.”

“We have already put in a structure, we now just need to organise it across all grades.”

“Modelling it across the board and make it so you work your way up.”

Berghofer wants to see the culture across all teams be about honing individuals skills and adapting plans to fit players.

He is looking forward to seeing new and returning players as well as watching players from previous seasons make there way into the Shute Shield. 

Pj Cartwright, Evander Filemu, Adrian Siliva, fili Piliae Tui Faasisila, Romeo Raciqa and Matt Borg are all moving on from HAC with hopes of Shute Shield selection. 

“Hopefully all of these guys will be able to learn more as players and then come back to HAC and teach it to the next group of players coming through.”

Berghofer is hoping to “Win the whole thing, continuing the great winning culture and adding to that.”

He said he wants the club to be about “playing football and having fun in a good environment.”

Berghofer said that he wants to bring back the community aspect of the club. “I want to make the club more welcoming to the students, parents, wives, girlfriends and mates… the people who will come watch the games and support us.”

“I want us to play good entertaining rugby.”

Berghofer wants to implement a system that will work across all the grades and one that will allow everyone to play together at high levels.

He is assembling a good coaching team with a game paln that will work well with not for First Grade but with other teams and players. 

“You have to coach to your cattle… hone and individualise your game plans.”

“I want there to be a harmony between all grades … for everyone to be together,” he said.

Preseason for HAC Rugby begins on Thursday, February 7 at the College Oval, WSU Richmond.

 “Since there is a late season start this year, we have around three months to test fitness and skills before deciding grades,” said Berghofer.

“Anyone and everyone is welcome to come down to the training and to see what we’re about.”